For the first time in his career, Trout required a stint on the DL in 2017 after he tore the UCL in his left thumb in late May. He missed 39 games as a result of the injury, but showed no lingering effects of the ailment after returning to the lineup following the All-Star break. Over his final 67 games, Trout hit .285/.429/.552, with 17 homers, 36 RBI, 12 steals, and a 58:48 BB:K in 301 plate appearances, a pace that would have made him a 40-homer, 30-steal player over a full 162-game season. The per-game production was once again at an MVP level, and it's hard to believe that he's still just 26 years old. Since the second half of the 2017 season, the Angels have upgraded the supporting cast around Trout, and his run-production numbers could tick up slightly in 2018 as a result. Even if he's no longer the unanimous choice as the No. 1 overall pick in drafts, he's still on the short list of players in the conversation.

For the third consecutive season, Arenado finished as a top-six fantasy earner among hitters. He's averaging 40 homers and 131 RBI over the past three years, and his batting average has seen steady growth as Arenado has learned to be more patient (9.1 percent walk rate last season) and work the ball the other way when he has to. There was a notable dip against right-handers in 2017, with his OPS against righties falling more than 100 points to .843, but his bounce-back against lefties more than made up for it. He remains a Gold Glove defender at third base, so he's on the field every day, plus he's productive away from Coors Field (.283/.355/.531 on the road last season). Arenado makes consistent contact, is just entering his age-27 campaign and his home park gives him an excellent floor for fantasy production. Thinking Arenado won't return first-round value again seems silly at this point.

Altuve proved that his 2016 power surge wasn't a fluke, matching his home-run total (24) from the previous year and setting new career bests with his entire slash line (.346/.410/.547) while improving his success rate on the basepaths (84.2 percent). For the fourth consecutive season, he led the American League in hits, despite his lowest total of plate appearances since 2012. A perennial All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner, Altuve has played at an elite level annually since 2014, when fantasy owners were enthralled by his ability as a 50-steal contributor. An early-season spike in strikeouts in April was offset by three straight months with a K-rate under 10 percent, and while his season rate was up from 9.8 to 12.7 percent, whiffs are not an issue for him. As part of a Houston core that figures to remain intact for at least another two years, Altuve is positioned to once again make another run at being the best player in the game.

Stanton's highlight-reel blasts and career 13.4 HR/AB rate have long made him a chic early-round fantasy pick, with owners willing to bet on the unmatched power he could bring over a full season of good health. That gamble paid massive dividends in 2017 with the oft-injured outfielder, who hadn't played more than 125 games in five of his previous seven campaigns, avoiding the DL entirely and swatting an MLB-best 59 homers. Stanton also capitalized on the improved talent around him in the Miami lineup to compile 132 RBI and 123 runs, placing him first and third, respectively, in baseball. A six-point drop in strikeout percentage (to 23.6 percent) also offered optimism that the .281 batting average he submitted last season may be sustainable. Although Stanton's injury history makes him a riskier investment than other stars, he'll move into a much more hitter-friendly environment for his home games and benefit from a deep supporting cast in the lineup around him in 2018 and beyond after he was traded to the Yankees in December.

Even Kershaw wasn’t immune from the 2017 home run barrage as he recorded a HR/9 north of 1.0 for the first time, allowing 23 long balls, by far a career high. He also averaged just 6.5 innings per start, his first season below 7.0 since 2012. The lefty also missed over a month due to injury for the third time in the last four seasons. Still, Kershaw remains the top fantasy starting pitcher, though durability likely precludes him from top overall player consideration. He’s as dominant as ever, though his 2017 walk rate (1.5 BB/9) regressed back to career norms after his ultra-stingy 2016 campaign. While it’s tempting to overlook the issue as Kershaw’s health appears fine, back woes often hibernate; they rarely go away. Injury risk puts him atop a tier with fellow aces Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber and Chris Sale. The days of tossing 230-plus innings are likely over anyway, even if he stays healthy all year.

Following his breakout 2016 campaign, Ramirez arguably was the top player for a 102-win Indians squad last season, raising his production in every meaningful fantasy category except steals. Even so, Ramirez still swiped 17 bags to go with 29 long balls, making him one of only four players in baseball to reach both benchmarks. Even the MLB-wide jump in power wasn't enough to dim the luster on his 115-point improvement in ISO, and Ramirez's sterling plate discipline, downward-trending GB/FB rate and ability to spray the ball around the yard are skills that make him a good bet to keep his average near or above .300. Moreover, Ramirez's placement in the heart of a potent lineup should keep propping up his run and RBI outputs, making the 25-year-old one of the few true five-category contributors. Due to Jason Kipnis missing extensive time last season, Ramirez regained eligibility at the keystone in addition to third base heading into 2018, further burnishing his credentials as a worthy selection in the first two rounds of fantasy drafts.

At a glance, the 2016 NL MVP had a disappointing season in 2017 -- his home-run total fell from 39 to 29, and he drove in just 73 runs after racking 102 RBI the previous season. A closer look reveals signs of improvement in the underlying numbers, however, as Bryant struck out a career-low 19.2 percent of the time while drawing walks at a career-high 14.3 percent clip. While his RBI output was lighter than expected, Bryant racked up 111 runs scored, finishing eighth in MLB in 2017 after he cracked the top-five in 2016. He spent more time in the No. 2 spot in the batting order last season, which paired with the Cubs' lack of an OBP machine in the leadoff spot following the departure of Dexter Fowler, reduced his opportunities to drive in runs. The slight drop in power should slightly deflate Bryant's price at the draft table this spring, but there's no compelling reason to think that he can't be one of the most productive hitters in the league in 2018.